The second half was another story.

Bryant popped off for 31 points in the final two quarters, hit several key baskets late and appeared to take his one-on-one matchup with Ron Artest personally.

"Wasn't much of a battle tonight. I kicked his ass tonight," said Bryant on Artest. "We've had some battles in the past and he's gotten the best of me a few times [but] tonight I got the best of him." (Audio below)

The matchup was physical and it came to a boiling point with 6:54 left in the game and the Lakers up 75-73. Bryant took exception to Artest's physical defense and a brief shoving match kicked off, leading to double technicals for both players.

"Good basketball. He and I are both Eighties Babies anyway, so we like the old school stuff," said Bryant. "In the old school that would have been nothing, that would have been just a pat on the butt and keep playing."

Artest said the technical was more of a "respect" technical foul and not a "hateful" one.

"He's a good competitor," said Artest of Kobe. "That's how it's going to be when we play against each other. It was a good competitive game but we're not friends out there, not friends out there at all. But after the game, after the season, this will be something we'll probably talk about at a pickup game or something."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, in his typical fashion, somewhat laid the blame at Artest's feet.

"Ronny is a funny guy," said Jackson. "Sometimes he gets carried away with things, but we have a lot of respect for him as a player. Tonight Kobe had his way and other times Ron has had real good games."

For Kobe's part, he said there were no hard feelings between him and Artest.

"No, not at all. I love Ron. I tried to get him with us a few years ago. I was a big supporter of that. It didn't work out and he's here."